Taliban kills, injures over 35 in attack on Afghanistan police HQ

June 18 2017 10:30 AM

Several killed, wounded in attack on Afghanistan police headquarters

The toll number of victims of the five suicide bombers who attacked a police headquarters in eastern Afghanistan has risen to several people have been killed and injured, Reuters cited officials on Sunday.

The attack, claimed by the Taliban, began around 6:30 a.m. local time when one bomber detonated a car packed with explosives at the gate of the police headquarters in Gardez city, capital of Paktia Governorate, said Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

The gate was stormed by four more attackers after the blast, with at least two quickly killed by police. Other assailants' attacks were foiled by the Afghan special forces that had responded to the attack, he said.

Danish put the toll at two police killed and five wounded.

However, doctors at the city hospital said they had received the bodies of at least five police officers, as well as at least 30 wounded people, including 20 civilians.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid reporting more than 100 police were killed and wounded. The terrorist group often exaggerates casualty numbers in attacks against government targets and security forces.

This incident comes as insurgent groups like the Taliban and ISIS have launched a string of attacks across Afghanistan in recent weeks.